Cost: Attendance is free. There beer tasting tent is $10. There is also food and crafts for sale.

Visit: milfordpumpkinfestival.org

Pumpkin prideMilford’s pumpkin festival returns

10/05/17By Ethan Hogan

A giant pumpkin competition, scarecrow-building and a haunted trail are some of the highlights of the three-day Milford Pumpkin Festival, happening Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, in Union Square.

People from all over New England head to downtown Milford each year to celebrate the Pumpkin Festival — 45,000 people, according to Wendy Hunt, the executive director of the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“You get to come down to the historic oval ... and it’s gorgeous,” Hunt said.

Gorgeous and potentially scary, for those who like a good fright. The Masonic Lodge will once again erect its Haunted Trail by the river, with a dark tunnel that features scares from makeup-clad spookers (though Hunt said that while the tunnel is frightening, young kids could walk it with their parents).

The other main attractions are, as the event’s name suggests, pumpkin-related.

The giant pumpkin competition will be held at noon on Saturday, featuring pumpkins weighing in at more than 1,000 pounds. The pumpkins are brought in every year from farms throughout New Hampshire. Hunt said last year’s winner weighed more than 2,000 pounds and broke a state record.

“We usually get five or six of those [huge ones], and it’s just about all we have room for,” said Hunt.

A separate Milford Grown award is given to the heaviest pumpkin grown in town.

For hands-on pumpkin fun, there will be pumpkins covering the community house lawn that kids can paint throughout the weekend.

“It has to be 1,000 pumpkins,” said Hunt.

Chainsaw artist Jim Flis will carve pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns on Saturday, creating realistic faces and detailed scenes on the pumpkins using only his chainsaw.

Hunt said the festival lends itself to the enjoyment of the fall weather and foliage, and she noted that some people come to enjoy the festivities without spending any money.

“Just walk around and listen to the music, riding the rides, building a scarecrow,” said Hunt.

Food and craft vendors will be on hand for those who do want to do some shopping or have a snack or a meal.

Middle Street, which circles the oval, will have food vendors set up throughout the weekend serving traditional fair food like kettle corn, hot dogs and cotton candy.

“There is more food than you can think of,” said Hunt.

A beer tasting tent will feature a selection of beers from local breweries including 603 Brewery, Smuttynose Brewery and Millyard Brewery and food from Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen based in Milford.

Crafters’ booths will be set up on Middle Street, the oval, Emerson Park and the third floor of the Town Hall.

Emerson Park will have rides and activities for kids, including bounce castles and a rock climb wall.

There is a talent show split into two groups for adults and kids. Hunt said there will be everything from jugglers and acrobats to pet performances and singing. The winner of the adult competition gets $500 cash and the winner of the kids competition could win prizes like free stays at camps.

This will be the 28th annual Pumpkin Festival. Hunt said at least 40 town organizations help with the event, each one responsible for its own part of the festival so the weekend goes smoothly.